Divine Mercy Found on Pilgrimage
On April 12, 2026, we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, or the Second Sunday of Easter. I am excited to invite you to join me for Evening Prayer today, because I am singing one of my favorite hymn tunes, “Beach Spring,” with the text by Frederick Faber, who like me, was a convert to Catholicism. I made sure to sing verse three (3) rather than verse two of the this hymn during Evening Prayer, because I believe the words speak to modern Christians today just as much as they did when Faber wrote them in the mid 1800’s.
“For the love of God is broader than the measures of the mind. And the Heart of the Eternal is more wonderfully kind. If our love were but more simple, we should take him at his word, and our hearts would rest forgiven in the Mercy of the Lord.”
Divine Mercy Sunday also reminds me of the last Papal Mass of Pope Francis in Rome that I was honored to attend in February 2025. I was there for the Jubilee Mass for Armed Forces and Police. Pope Francis was ill, but he stayed for the entire Mass. He began by preaching his own prepared homily, but he had to stop midway through due to his difficulty breathing.
Before he stopped speaking, Pope Francis made a very clear, bold statement looking directly at the massive congregation:
"Let us never forget this: the compassion of God!”
My Italian is only okay. I studied the language intensively in Florence way back in 1996 for one month. After 30 years, I am not as good at speaking Italian as I used to be! However, that Sunday in February, I clearly heard and felt the message that Pope Francis continued on to say, “Let us not forget: God is near, God is tender, and God is always compassionate.”
That entire Mass was so spiritually moving for me! I had tears running down my face for almost the entire liturgy, and I could not figure out why. I was certainly thrilled to be there! It turns out that the Cardinal who celebrated the Eucharist during that Mass was none other than Robert Prevost, who just a few short months later became Pope Leo XIV. I was in the presence of two Popes that day, and I clearly felt the Holy Spirit.
This experience is one of the main reasons why I am SO excited to lead a pilgrimage to Italy this coming October 5-15, 2026. Part of the itinerary includes attending Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. I want to share the type of encounter that I had with the Holy Spirit in Rome with as many people as possible. The type of visceral experience of God that I had in Italy during the Jubilee truly enlivened my faith when I came back home. I know a pilgrimage to Italy can do the same for you too!
This year, Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special Jubilee in honor of the 800th Anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi on October 3, 1226. The pilgrimage I am leading includes two days in Assisi, just after this very special anniversary day. I will be holding an informational webinar with the leadership team of the pilgrimage company, Select International Pilgrimages on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 7:00PM. You can learn more about the trip and ask lots of questions of the tour company. I will have the sign-up link for the webinar in my email next weekend.
Click this link to get more details about the trip and to download the official brochure:
https://selectinternationaltours.com/dr-carly-york/
Wishing you the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Carly
The Catholic Cantor
